Penny pinchers know that rental car companies are full of ways to squeeze a little more money out of you.  Bob Sullivan’s book Gotcha Capitalism talks about all the various ways companies hit you with hidden and sneaky fees, and rental car companies are one of the biggest culprits.

Want to save money next time you rent a car?  Here are a few ways to make sure that the rental car companies don’t "get" you:

1. Compare prices by calling each rental car company individually.  Websites that take care of this for you only list the basic, per-day rate.  Unfortunately, there are many fees tacked on to this.  That’s how rental car companies compete — by making much of the cost of renting a car invisible (until you get the bill, of course).  By calling each company individually, for instance when you are looking for Fort Lauderdale rental cars, you can ask specifically about what other fees will apply, and what your actual total will be.
2. Don’t buy extra insurance.  That extra insurance is usually a rip-off.  Skeptics will of course point out that the chances of anything happening are actually pretty slim, but in addition, your own car insurance probably covers you any time you are driving a rental — call them and check!  Also, you can check with any Orlando car rental company and see what their policies usually are regarding insurance versus no insurance.
3. Fill up the tank before you return the rental car.  Car rental companies are notorious for inflating the fuel charge if they have to fill the tank after you return the car.  Airport rental cars are particularly evil about it, because the gas station right there at the airport usually has inflated prices, too.  So with any Orlando airport car rental, be sure to fill the gas tank to where it needs to be before returning the car — and, if possible, before even getting to the airport.

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